Cleaning and waxing appliances



Dem-9,1969 F. M. EVANS ETAL. 3,482,740

"CLEANING AND WAXING APPLIANCES Filed Jan. 8, 1968 E f? p {062 104 I ll m Zara:

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James J! Eva/:5

United States Patent 3,482,740 CLEANING AND WAXING APPLIANCES Frank M. Evans and James A. Evans, both of 415 Saginaw Ave, Calumet City, Ill. 60409 Filed Jan. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 696,425 Int. Cl. 867d /60; BOSb 7/26; F17d 3/00 US. Cl. 222132 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An appliance interposed between a water supply and a dispensing nozzle to dispense in turn a water solution with a detergent content, plain water, and a water solution with a wax content. The appliance has a housing movable from a first to second and third positions along an internal cylinder to secure the dispensing stages mentioned. In the first position the housing and the cylinder are joined externally by an interlock to prevent turning of the housing on the cylinder. At such time end caps on the cylinder may be unscrewed to insert a cake of detergent substance in one end-chamber thereof, and one of wax in a chamber at the opposite end. The housing has alined passages to the cylinder from the water supply and the nozzle; and the cylinder has three series of circularly-spaced openings adapted to register with the passages in turn when the housing is located at the interlock and moved to second and third positions therefrom along the cylinder. The feed through the latter is therefore selective; and the chambers of the cylinder have inner walls separating the middle opening series from the outer ones, whereby to isolate the chambers from each other and the middle opening series.

Our invention relates to appliances for cleaning and waxing of surfaces which become soiled from exposure to climatic conditions, and deals particularly with the surfaces of motor cars. When cleaning such surfaces it is customary to first apply a detergent solution, then a rinse, and finally a polishing wax. While these operations are generally done by hand, appliances have been developed which direct a stream or spray of water toward the surface treated, such stream or spray containing an additive of detergent or waxing material. However, such appliances require fittings or materials to be changed or special attachments to be applied for each operation, making the appliance complicated and its use laborious.

In departing from the above situation, it is one object of the present invention to provide an appliance of the type stated which simplifies handling of the additive materials by using solid units of the same which are easily inserted into the appliance.

A further object is to design the appliance in a manner to group the functional features of the same permanently in one body for compactness and easy handling.

Another object is to construct the appliance with a single adjusting means for procuring its different functions, such means being external and handy to operate.

A still further object is to construct the appliance with receptacles for the additive materials at opposite ends, and with simple means for closing the receptacles and preventing leakage from the appliance.

.An additional object is to design the improved appliance in a manner to be readily adaptable for receiving a water supply connection at one end and a dispensing unit at the other end.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the appliance with a water supply connection at the bottom and a dispensing nozzle at the top;

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FIG. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 at the left, with steps in adjustment depicted in the center and at the right;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged internal view of the appliance from the front, partly in section.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes the housing of the appliance, which is a casting of light metal for easy handling. The housing is generally of tubular form and usually positioned horizontallyas shownwhen in use. It is extended downwardly with a socket 10a for receiving the coupling 12 of a water supply hose 13. The housing is also extended upwardly with a tube 10b in line with the socket 10a, such tube ending with a nipple to which a conventional spray nozzle 15, operated by a squeeze handle 15a, is fitted. The socket 10a and tube 1% are formed with alined central passages 10d and 15b, respectively.

The housing 10 is snugly slidable on a tubular valve cylinder 18 from an initial position indicated by full lines in FIG. 1 toward the right to a second position, and further to a third position, which is indicated by finelydotted lines in FIG. 1. With the housing in the first position the appliance is designed to eject a stream of water with a detergent content, in the second position a stream of water alone, and in the third position a stream of water with a wax content.

FIG. 5 indicates that the valve cylinder 18 is threaded at the ends, as shown at 18a, to receive end caps 19 and 20. The cap 19 forms a closure for a chamber 18b whose inner end is a wall and the cap 20 closes a similar chamber whose inner end is a Wall 18e. The chambers are lined within their sides by rolls 22 of wire mesh. Chamber 18b receives a cake 23 of soluble detergent, while chamber 18d receives a cake 24 of soluble wax.

The caps 19 and 20 may be screwed on and unscrewed from the valve cylinder with one hand while the housing is held with the other. Since the caps are screwed down to be water-tight, the effort to turn one or the other may also turn the valve cylinder. While this circumstance would not affect the flow of water through the applianceas will become evident laterit would delay the mounting or removal of the caps until the valve cylinder is held still. This is done by a simple interlock, which is effective while the housing 10 is still in the initial position shown in FIG. 1. This position is also indicated from above in the left-hand section of FIG. 2. This view shows that the valve cylinder 18 is enlarged with a collar 18 cut away to leave a semicircular band 18g, also seen in FIG. 3. The related end of the housing is cut away opposite the band 18g to define a complementary band 10e. When these bands are meshed as seen in the left-hand portion of FIG. 2, an interlock is formed which prevents the rotation of the valve cylinder in either direction relative to the housing. While the movement of the latter to the central or right-hand parts of FIG. 2 will release the interlock and defeat its purpose, this condition may be avoided by turning the caps 19 and 20 only when the housing is located at the initial stage of adjustment, that is, where the interlock is engaged.

Reference to FIG. 5 shows that the valve cylinder 18 is formed with three annularly-grooved sections D, R and W-denoting detergent, rinse and waxin line; and the sections are located at the left, between and at the right of the chamber walls 180 and 182, respectively. The sections each contain a series of circularly-spaced openings 18h, four being shown; and next to the sections D, R and W the valve cylinder has annular grooves 18i seating packing rings 26 which seal the sections apart along the wall of the housing.

When the housing is located in the initial position with the interlock engaged, the upper and lower openings 1811 of the valve cylinder section D will be in line with the housing passages d and b. Also, the section D opens on the valve cylinder chamber 181) in which the cake 23 of detergent is located. The water from the hose 13 will therefore fill the chamber 18b and form a detergent solution which will issue from the nozzle 15 for cleaning use when the handle 15a is actuated. The valve cylinder section R and W are of course spaced according to the second and third steps in the movement of the housing, so that only plain water will pass through the appliance during the second stage for rinsing use; and water with a wax content will be dispensed during the third or final stage. A marking line 27 is scored on the surface of the valve cylinder as a stop for the movement of the housing at the second stage, while the cap 20 forms the stop for the third stage. While the adjusting departure of the housing may remain in line with the interlock and therefore insure the registration of the openings 1811 with the housing passages 10d and 15b, the inadvertent turning of the housing on the valve cylinder to any appreciable extent would only limit the water flow momentarily and bring a second set of the openings into line with the passages to restore a full flow from the appliance.

It will now be apparent that the improved appliance has a number of advantageous features. First, it is compact and fully self-contained, only requiring interposition between the water supply and the nozzle to be ready for use. Further, nothing needs removing, adding or replacing to secure the operational changes from stage to stage; and no parts can therefore become mislaid or lost during the use of the appliance or at any other time. Further, the adjusting action of the appliance is positive and without the use of springs or other delicate parts; and the packing seals between the housing and the valve cylinder check the posisbility of leakage of water from the valve sections or out of the housing. In this respect it is noted that the interlock does not communicate with the interior of the valve cylinder, but is entirely outside thereof and remote from the sealed valve sections or any contact with water. Also, the interlock is made integrally with the housing and valve cylinder, and requires no extra parts. Further, the chambers for the detergent and waX cakes are remote from each other, fully isolating one substance from the other. Yet, the chambers are readily accessible for filling or cleaning; and the wire mesh liners in the same prevent pebbles or abrasive particles in the water or other chamber contents from escaping into the nozzle to scratch or mar the surfaces treated. Further, the use of a water stream to form a solution from a solid additive also makes possible the use of soap, fertilizer, weed killers, bug killers, etc. as additives, widening the uses of the appliance. Finally, the latter is light, easy to handle and usable without the need of experience or skill.

We claim:

1. An appliance adapted to be interposed between a water supply and a dispensing nozzle comprising a housing receiving the water supply in one end and the nozzle at the other, a cylinder journaled crosswise in the housing to extend with end portions from the sides thereof, said portions forming chambers for soluble cakes of chemical substance, and means directing Water from said supply through the cylinder to the nozzle for selectively dispensing in turn a water solution of one chemical substance, plain Water, and a water solution of the other chemical substance by locating the housing at different positions along the cylinder.

2. The structure of claim 1, and end caps for the cylinder forming closures for said chambers.

3. The structure of claim 1, and means at one side of the housing defining its position for the first selection and locking the cylinder from rotation relative to the housing.

4. The structure of claim 1, and a meshed interlock between one side of the housing and the cylinder, such interlock defining the position of the housing for the first selection.

5. The structure of claim 1, and a meshed external interlock between one side of the housing and the cylinder, such interlock defining the position of the housing for the first selection.

6. The structure of claim 1, and a meshed interlock between one side of the housing and the cylinder, such interlock defining the position of the housing for the frst selection and comprising overlapping semi-circular surface bands.

7. The structure of claim 1, the housing having alined passages between the water supply and the nozzle directed to the cylinder, the latter having series of circularly spaced openings adapted to register in turn with said passages when the housing assumes said positions to establish communication between the passages and the cylinder by way of the corresponding series of openings.

8. The structure of claim 1, the housing having aligned passages between the water supply and the nozzle directed to the cylinder, the latter having a first, second and third series of circularly-spaced openings adapted to register in turn with said passages when the housing assumes said positions, and inner walls for said chambers separating the second of said series from the first and third.

9. The structure of claim 1, the housing having aligned passages between the water supply and the nozzle directed to the cylinder, the latter having a first, second and third series of circularly-spaced openings adapted to register in turn with said passages when the housing assumes said positions, and inner walls for said chambers separating the second of said series from the first and third, the outer surfaces of the cylinder being annularly indented around each series of openings.

10. The structure of claim 1, the housing having aligned passages between the water supply and the nozzle directed to the cylinder, the latter having a first, second and third series of circularly-spaced openings adapted to register in turn with said passages when the housing assumes said positions, and innner walls for said chambers separating the second of said series from the first and third, the outer surface of the cylinder having annular grooves in alternation with each of said series, and packing rings between the housing and the cylinder, such rings seating in the grooves.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,789 5/1959 Sutton 222-133 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner M. Y. MAR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

